A multi-millionaire rabbi who took part in cocaine parties with prostitutes in
a flat nicknamed the “synagogue of sin” has been convicted of possessing
drugs.

Baruch Chalomish, 54, dipped into his £7 million fortune from property deals to fuel his £1,000-per-week habit with "the best cocaine in town", a court heard.

The Israeli-born cleric, described by a judge as once being an "eminent and leading" member Manchester’s Jewish community, descended into a spiral of addiction after the death of his first wife, Freda, three years ago.

From alcohol he moved on to hard drugs and soon struck up a partnership with Nasir Abbas, who rented the flat in Manchester city centre where the parties were held, Manchester Crown Court heard.

The pair were arrested following raids in January in which police recovered cocaine and large amounts of cash.

Chalomish, the life president of a Jewish college in Manchester, was cleared of the supply charge but found guilty of possession. He pleaded guilty to a further count of possession earlier.

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But Abbas, 54, who was described as the "leading player" in the parties, failed to turn up for the trial and is now on the run.

He was convicted of one count of possession and one count of supply and jailed in his absence for six years.

Chalomish, a father of three, admitted being Abbas’s "best customer" of Abbas – but denied they were in a drugs business.

The court heard how the rabbi met Abbas through an Israeli friend and they would go to parties at apartments around Manchester to snort cocaine alongside "distinguished people" such as surgeons and GPs.

He was arrested on Jan 5 this year after a five-day binge involving drugs and sex with prostitutes.

Police raided a flat rented by Abbas, where they found cocaine was found in the bedroom, on a glass tray and in a bowl, along with rolled up banknotes used for snorting the drug and credit cards used for chopping the drug into lines.

Chalomish’s home in Salford was also searched and police found cocaine along with £15,345 in cash.

Judge Michael Henshell described the case as “extraordinary”.

He told the jury: “You heard facts really outside my experience, dealing with a man who is a leading and eminent member of his own community, who was in possession of drugs and on trial for the serious offence of supply.”

Chalomish was bailed for the preparation of reports before he is sentenced on Dec 17. The judge indicated that he will face a community penalty rather than prison.

Jonathan Goldberg QC, defending, said outside court: "He now hopes the shame and degradation he has suffered will serve as an example to others to shun drugs."